Covee-opeeating mechanism



C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERAHNG MECHANISM.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20. I9IB.

1 ,309,565. Patented July 8, 1919. i 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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C. CRETORS.

coven OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented July 8, 1919.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20 l9l8.

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WLQSS/ C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20.1918.

Patented July 8, 1919.

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C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man SEPT-20.1918.

1,309,565. Patented July 8, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CRETORS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COVER-OPERATING- MECHANISM.

Application filed September 20. 1918.

To all 1072 0121 it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Can'rons, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica. and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCover-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for opening and closing the cover or lidof the popping pan of an auton'iatically operating corn poppingapparatus such as disclosed in my prior Patents No. 1,201,807, ofOctober 17, 1916, and No. 1,279,663 of Sept. 21, 1918, and has for itsobject To provide a structural formation and as sociation of parts in acover operating mechanism by which the periodic opening and closingmovements are attained at the proper time and in an effective andcertain manner by an inter-controllable connection of the differentunits and so that when one mechanism ends an active operation it willrelease or start a succeedingmechanism from a normally inactivecondition in which it had been positively maintained, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying d 'awings Figure 1, is a rear elevation of a cornpopping apparatus, similar to that of my aforesaid patents, and havingthe present improvements applied.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged vertical section of the operating mechanism ofthe apparatus and the inter-controllable connections thereof.

Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of the clutch operating head of thepresent mechanism.

Fig. 41, is a detail top plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. is a sectional elevation on line rc"a Fig, 2 showing the clutchoperating mechanism and accessories in locked condition.

Fig. 6, is a similar view of the same in a released condition.

Fig. 7, is a detail horizontal section on line w m Fig. 5,

Figs. 8 and 9, are companion detail side elevations of the cover raisingmechanism illustrating the same connected for an active poppingOperation and for an inactive or exhibition operation, respectively.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 254.948.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the tubular upright supportingpost of the apparatus, carrying a horizontal tubular bracket sleeve 2upon which is revolnbly mounted the fixedly connected fuel burner 3 andpopping pan 4 of the apparatus and to which intermittentsemi-revolutimis are imparted by the automatically controlled mechanismshereinafter described in detail.

-'l designates the fixed top member or hood of the popping pan, of atruncated cone form and having a central top opening for the dischargeof the popped corn. such opening having an associated lid or cover 5adapted for operation by means hereinafter de scribed.

G designates a laterally disposed neck on the hood 1 for theintroduction of a supply of raw corn into the popping pan 4- from asupply hopper 7. as described in detail in my prior Patent No.1,279,663, aforesaid.

8 designates a mutilated bevel gear wheel fixedly secured to thecarrying hub of the fuel burner 3 and associated popping pan 4aforesaid, and adapted to receive intermittent semi-rotation from abevel pinion 9 on a. constantly rotating countershaft 10 of the appa'atus, as set forth in detail in my companion application for LettersPatent, Serial No. 254,947. In the present improvement the upper end ofthe countershaft 10 has operative engagement with the cover raising andlowering mechanism hereinafter described in detail,

11 and 12 designate primary and secondary cam wings fixed on the gearwheel 8 in diametrically opposed relation, the primary wing 11 having agreater lift than the secondary wing 12 set forth.

13 designates the primary driving shaft. of the apparatus receivingmotion from a suitable power source. and opcratively connected to theaforesaid counter-shaft 10 by a pair of gear wheels 14 and 15, the gearwheel 15 having a cam formation 16 on its upper side for operativeengagement with the timing mechanisn'i of the apparatus.

17 designates a vertically movable head. preferably arranged to slideupon the aforesaid countershaft 10. with a constant downward tendencyunder the influence of a for the purpose hereinafter spring 17. Theupper end of said head is operatively associated with the carrying armof the popping pan cover, as hereinafter described, while the lower endof said head 17 is adapted for serial perative engagements with theprimary and secondary cam Wings 11 and 12 aforesaid, and adapted in afully raised condition to render the timing mechanism -inoperativeand-atother times leave said timing mechanism; freetfor active operation asset forth in detail in my companionapplication Ser. No. 254,947.

18 designates a bracket piece-fixed on the and having operative.connectionbya rod or pitman 22 with-an intermittently operating.

crank disk 31 hereinafter described.

23 designates .a movable arm-nor frame journaled on the pivot, pintle ofthe, cover carrying arn'1119-with. its rear. end operatively connectedto a cornmeasuring mechanism inclosed in the-lower portion. of thesupply hopper? aforesaid, by a connecting rod 24:. At its forward end"the movable arm 23 is formed for engagement with a latch piece 25 on thecover carrying; arm 19 to lock the; parts. together for ..mo.vement .inunison, and s0 iilhttillVllBll. said latch piece25 is released the armor frame. 23 will remain inactive with a correspondinginactivity of themeasuring mechanism: aforesaid.

26 designates aspring bar orhfinger/ the upper and free end oflwhichisadapted'for operative engagement with the; hereinafter described clutchoperating head, while its lower end is. pivotally connected to a crankarm'27 on the hubportion of the. cover carrying arm 19; aforesaid. ,In.the present construction the spring finger 26., is. maintained inproper. positionby a bearing stud and a confining loop 29 on the arm orframe. 23 aforesaid.

30 designates atworm hub. supportedv on the upper end of :thebracketpiece 18 and encircling the upper end of the countershaft 10,with its worm formation inoperative engagement with the gearteethoffthecrank disk 3l= heretofore referred to, andiadapted The worm hub toimpart rotation thereto. 30 has .intermittent operative connection withthe countershaft 10 bya T shapedkey or clutch number 32 slidingvertically in a keyway in said countershaftrand having a lateral lug 33adapted to engage in a holding notchin the top of said worm' hub 30 tolock the same to said counter-shaft for rotation therewith. The laterallug 33 extends outwardly 3 for operative engagement with the hereinafterdescribed automatically actuated clutch operating head, the action ofWhich is to lift the clutch member 32 out of engagement with the wormhub 30,'and to ,permita.reengagement of said parts at dif--36.designates an operating stem guided in a a vertical guideway inthebracket piece 18 and. fixedly attachedatits lower end to the vertically:movinghead 17 .heretofore described. :Intermediate,itsheight the stem36 is formed witha lateralshoulder .38 for in termittent operativeengagement with the crank pin.20. of. the cover-carrying arm 19aforesaid,and the mpper. end of said stem 36is. adaptedto engageandiimpart vertical movement to a cam block or rod formed and arrangedasfollows 37. de signatesla cam block or rod arranged in verticalalinement witln the operating stem 36 for intermittent. operativeengagementtherewith. The upper end of the block or. rod 37 is formedwith a beveled or cam surface for operative engagement with acorrespondingly formed lateral arm or formationof the clutchoperatinghead now to be described 39 designates the hub portion of the clutchoperating head above referred to, provided with a journal stem 40turning in the bracket piece 18 in adjacent relation to the worm hub 30and clutch member 32 aforesaid.

41, designates a curved clutch operating arm fixed transversely on thehub portion 39 anduformed With a beveled or cam surface 42 adapted to beswung into the path of the lateral lug33, of the clutch member 32, sothat in its circular travel with the countershaft 10, the said lug 33may ride upon said cam surface 4-2 and thus lift said-lung out of itsoperative engagement in the notch of'the Worm hub and the countershaft10 aforesaid.

43 designates an operating pin or lug arranged on onev end of the clutchoperating arml and adapted for operative engagement with the beforementioned spring finger 26, when the apparatus. is run empty forexhibition purposes as set forth in the operation of the apparatus.

1 1 designates an operating pin or studarranged near the opposite end ofthe'eluteh operating arm 41 and adaptedfor serial operative engagementwith a pair of diametri-- cally opposed cam lugs 45 on the periphery ofthe crank disk 31, and said cam lugs d5 are so positioned that-as .thepan cover 5 nears the end of itsvtravel to its lowered position onecanilug 15 will engage andoperate the pin alto swing the'eurved cam arm41 into operative engagementavith the clutch member 32 to release theworm'hub 30 from its driving engagement with the countershaft' 1Oaforesaid. lVhen the pan cover 5 nears the end of itstravel to itsraised position the other camlug 45 will effeet a similar clutchreleasingoperation.

l6 designates a peripheral flange on the crank disk 31 against which theaforesaid pin ll bears, andiits movementin the manner above described isprevented, during the greater part of the semi-rotation of i the crankdisk 31, and until a cam lug 45 comes into operation when said movementis permited by a gap for-med in said flange adjacent to an individualcam lug :5.

17 designates a reciprocating rod guided by the pan cover and earryingarm 19 and receiving motion from the popped anduexpanded contents of thepopping pan -l. as set forth in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,27 9,663. Andas in said patented construction the outer end of the rod 47 is arrangedadjacent to one end'of the clutch operating arm ll and is adapted tomove the cam surface 12 of'the arme'll out of the path of the laterallug 32 of the clutch member, so that the same may drop into clutchingengagement with the worm' hub 30 and cause positive rotation of the sameand the crank disk 31 aforesaid.

48 designates a laterally arranged arm or projection on the hub portionof the clutch operating head above described, with its under surfacebeveled or inclined for operative engagement with the correspondinglybeveled upper end of the cam block or rod 37 before described, and thearrangement is such that a complete upward movement of the cam rod 37will swing the clutchoperating arm 41, associated with said arm 48, outof the path of thecluteh member 32 and permit operative engagement ofthe worm hub 30 with the driving counter-shaft 10 aforesaid.

19 designates a fixed collar on the "journal stem 4-0 of the clutchoperating arm 41 aforesaid, formed with a side ledge or flange 50 at itslower end, which ledge or flange is in turn formed with a centralholding slot or passage 51, see Figs. 3, 5. and 6, adapted to receive alateral pin 52 of the cam rod 37 to lock the collar l-9 and clutchoperating arm 41 from a turning movement. At other periods in theoperation of the apparatus, thepin 52 is moved vertically out of theslot 51 and is adapted to rest upon the ledge 50'avhen the clutchoperating arm 11 and said collar--49 are turned to bring said legs 50beneath the pin 52, as set forth in detail in the operation of themechanism.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Assume the popping pan 4 tobe in a normal poppingposition with the pan cover 5 moving from 'an openposition shown in dotted lines, to a elosedposition shown in fulllinesin Fig. 1, under the influence of the worm hub 30 and crank disk 31. Insuch down ard movement of the cover 5, the corn measuring: means isoperated by the connecting rod 24-, operatively assoeiated'with thecover earryingmrm 19,- to supply a charge of raw or unpopped corn to thepopping pan 1. Coineidentwith the movements just described,-the crankarm 20 of the cover carrying'arin 19 acts against the shoulder 38 of theope 'ating stem 36 to impart an upward movement to the same, and whichin turn imparts a like n'iovement to the cam rod 37 to lift its lateralpin 52 out of the slot 51 and thereby release the clutch operating arm11 from the locked condition in which it was held by thecngagement ofsaid pin and slot.

()wing to the connection of the operating stem 36 with the verticallymoving head17, a like upward movement will be imparted to the 'head 17to render the timing mechanisnrof the'apparatus inoperative, as setforth in detail in my companion application Serial No; 254,917.

lVith the pan cover 5 nearing the closed position as above set forth. anadjacent cam lug 4:") of the crank disk 31 comes into operativeengagement with the pin 44 of the clutch operating arm 41 to swing thecam -surface -12 thereof into the path of the clutch member 32 to liftthe same out of driving engagement with the worm hub 30, so that furtherrotation of the cover operating crank disk 31 will be stopped, and atthe same time the ledge or flange 50 will move beneath the lateral pinto hold the same ioutof its locking engagement with the slot 51. aboveset forth.

The described partsnow remain in an inactive condition until the corn inthe popping pan -i1 has reached the properly popped stage to operate therod -17 as set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,279,663. lVith a movementof said rod 47 the same acts against the clutch operating arm 11 toswing the cam surface 42 thereof out of the path of the clutch member 32and permit the same to elfecta driving engagement with the worm hub 30,to in turn attain a semirevolution of the crank disk 31 and a liftingmoven'ient of the pan cover 5 to an open position. Near the end of suchcover liftingniovement another cam lug'45 on the crank disk 31 hasengagement with the pin 44 of the clutch operating arm 41 to swing thecam surface 42 thereof into the path of the clutch member 32 and liftthe same out of driving engagement with the worm hub 30 so that furtherrotation of the crank disk 31 will be stopped and the pan cover 5 willbe left in its raised position. At the same time the ledge or flange 50will be turned from beneath the lateral pin 52, permitting the same todescend into the slot 51 to lock the clutch operating arm 41 againstaccidental movement. a

In the described lifting movement of the pan cover 5, the crank arm 20of the cover carrying arm 19 moves away from the operating stem 36 andpermits the same and the connected head 17 to move downward so as torelease the timing mechanism of the apparatus and restore the same to anactive condition. In its downward movement the movable head 17 movesdown onto the primary cam wing 11, on which it rests until released fromsuch supporting engagement by a timing mechanism operating in unisonwith the present automatic cover moving mechanism, and preferably ofthedetail construction set forth. in my companion application Serial No.254,947 aforesaid.

WVith such release of the primary cam from the head 17 operativeconnection is reestablished between the bevel pinion 9 and the gearwheel 8 to effect asemi-revolution of thesaid gear wheel and acorresponding semi-revolution of popping pan 4 into inverted or dumpingposition.

During such semi-revolution of the parts,

the secondary cam wing 12 carried by said gear wheel 8 operates to movethe head 17 into a raised position and retains such head in such raisedposition until the timing mechanism heretofore referred to, effects areleasing movement between said secondary cam wing 12 and the head 17and reestablishes operative connection between the driv-o ing bevelpinion 9 and the mutilated bevel gear wheel 8 to cause 'a succeedingsemirevolution of the gear wheel 8 and a return of the popping pan 4 toan upright or popping position. During such last-mentionedsemi-revolutionof the bevel gear wheel 8 the primary cam wing 11 comesinto action to effect a maximum upward movement of the head 17associated operating stem 36 and cam rod 37 and thereby attain avertical movement of the lateral. pin 52 out of the slot 51, leaving theclutch operating arm 41 free to receive a turning movement, and then inthe final upward movement of said parts an operative engagement betweenthe beveled upper end of the cam rod 37 and the beveled under surface ofthe arm 48 to move the clutch operating arm 41 out of engagement withthe clutch member 32, so that the same may move down and operativelyengage the worm hub 30, and through the crank disk 31 effect the closingmovement of the pan cover 5 with which the present description of theoperation of the apparatus began;

In the present structure the frame 23 is connected to and moves inunison with the cover carrying arm 19 in the normal operation of theapparatuslVhen it is desired to have the apparatus run empty for thepurpose of exhibiting a continuous automatic operation of the mechanismwithout any feeding or popping of the corn, the frame 23 is disconnectedfrom the cover carrying arm 19 so that said frame may move by gravityinto an inactive position shown in Fig. 9, and in so doing the frame 23brings the spring finger 26 into operative relation to the clutchoperating arm 41. The spring finger 26 now lies in the path of the pin43 of said clutchoperating arm 41 and is adapted to disengage saidclutch operating arm from its engagement with the clutch member 32immediately following the heretofore described engagement of said clutchoperating arm 41 with the clutch member 32 and'which had been attainedby a. cam lug 45 of the crank disk 31 in the cover closing movement ofsaid crank disk. In such operation the spring finger 26 performs thefunction of the push rod 47, which in an exhibition operation remainswholly inactive owing to the absence of corn in thepopping pan. In theconstruction shown and described the spring finger 26 is in operativerelation to the pin 43 only, when the cover carrying arm 19 is in itslowered position.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising asupporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, acrank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection withsaid. carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving countershaft, meansfor imparting constant rotation to said countershaft, a worm hubjournaled loosely on said countersha-f-t and having operative engagementwith said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub andcountershaft, intermittently operated means for moving the movable member of said clutch connection into operative tions of the crank disk formoving said movable clutch member out of engagement with said Worm hub,substantially as set forth.

2. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising asupporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, acrank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection withsaid carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam formations near its periphery and a gapped holding flangeassociated with said cam formation, a driving countershaft, means forimparting constant rotation to said countershaft, a worm hub journaledloosely on said countershaft and having operative engagement with saidcrank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and countershaft,intermittently operated means for moving the movable member of saidclutch connection into operative engagement with said worm hub, andmeans operatively associated with the cam formations of the crank diskfor moving said movable clutch member out of engagement with said wormhub, substantially as set forth.

3. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising asupporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, acrank disk join-naled on said frame and having operative connection withsaid carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving counter-shaft, aworm hub journaled loosely on said countershaft and having operativeengagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said huband countershaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm providedwith a clutch operating cam surface and with an operating pin at one endadapted for engagement with the ca m formation of the crank disk torelease the clutch connection of the worm hub and countershaft, and arod receiving intermittent motion from the corn popping mechanism andhaving engagement with the clutch operating head to effect an engagementof the worm hub and countershaft, substantially as set forth.

4. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising asupporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, acrank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection withsaid carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving countershaft, aworm hub journaled loosely onsaid countershaft and having operativeengagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said huband countershaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm providedwith a clutch operating cam surface and with an operating pin at eachend, a rod receiving intelmittent motion from the corn popping mechanismand having engagement with the clutch operating head to effect anengagement of the -worm hub and counter-shaft, and a fran'ic separatefrom and capable of fixed connection to the coier carrying arm andcarrying a spring finger adapted when said frame is attached to thecover -arrying arm to have operative engagement with one of the pins ofthe clutch operating head to effect a clutch engagement of the worm huband countcrshaft, the other pin of said operating head being adapted forengagement with the cam formation of the crank disk to effect a releaseof the clutching engagement of said worm hub and countershaft,substantially as set forth.

5. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising asupporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, acrank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connections withsaid carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving counter-shaft, aworm hub journaled loosely on said counter-shaft and having operativeengagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said huband counter-shaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm providedwith an op erating pin at one end and with a clutch operating camsurface and a beveled operating face, a rod receiving intermittentmotion from the corn popping mechanism and having engagement with theclutch operating head to effect an engagement of the worm hub andcountershaft, the said operating pin being adapted for engagement withthe cam formations of the crank disk to effect a release of theclutching engagement of the worm hub and countershaft, and anintermittently moving cam rod the upper end of which is adapted toengage the beveled operating face of the clutch operating head to effecta clutching engagement of the worm hub and counter-shaft, substantiallyas set forth.

(3. A cover ope 'ating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprisinga supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame,a driving countershaft, a worm hub journalcd loosely on saidcountershaft and having operative connection with the cover carrying armadapted to effect a rising and lowering motion of said arm, a clutchconnection between said worm hub and countershaft, a clutch operatinghead controlling said clutch connection and receiving periodic actuationfrom the mechamsm of the apparatus, and means for lock.

ing said-v operating head .andassociated clutchconnection againstaeeidental move ment during, an unolutchedcondition of the Worm hub and,countershaft, substantially as set forth. a

7 A cover ope rating mechanism forjcorn I popping, apparatus, compr singa. supportlng frame, a swinging cover carrying arm I pivoted on saidframe, adriving countershaft,.a ormhub. journaled loosely on said'countershaft and having operative connection with themcover carryingarm; to attain .a rising and lowering, motion otthe same, a

clutclr'connection between saidorm hub and countersha-ft, a lc-lutchoperating head controlling, ,saidclutch connectiomand re- ;ceivingperiodic actuation from the mechaon saidiledge or loclg ing engagementinfsaid vertical slot, and a crankxarln-lon the-cover carry ng .armhaving, operative connection vv tlrsa d cam ro,d,,s 'ubstant1ally as;set ,forth.

8. A cover operating mechanism for corn aonin amaratus com risin iaqsuoorta: :3

111g frame, a swinging coverucarrying arm pivoted on said frame, adriving counter-- shaft, a orm hub 1ournaled loosely on sa1dv-countershaft and having operative connection With the covercarrying-arm to attain a rlslng and lowerlng motion of thesarne, a

welu tch connection between said Worm hub and lcountershait, aclutch'operating head controlling sa1d clutch connection and rece vmg-PGI'LOCllO actuat on from the -mechanism of the apparatus, a ledge orshelf associated with said operating head and formed with a verticalsl.ot,a cam rod adapted to mpart a turning movement to saidoperatinghead; and provided with a,lateral pinl adapted to havesupportingengagement on said ledge and locking: engagement 1n saidvertical slot, acrank arm on, the cover carrylngj arm; having operatlve.connection w th sa1d cam rod, and'a vertlcally. movable head 1 havingoperative an engagement with t sa1d cam rod, substantlally as set forth.

:Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day of September, 1918.

CREEO'RS.

c gpies qfi t h is patel lt mayx he obtaiueg, for five'eentsqeach,bmaddregsinguthe fipo m missi pner ofi, Batents,

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